Museveni has never been in DP â€" Ssebaana
Jul 14, 2009
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have disputed President Yoweri Museveni’s remark that he was once a member of their party. Appearing on WBS on Sunday, Museveni said he was once a DP member.
By Moses Mulondo
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have disputed President Yoweri Museveni’s remark that he was once a member of their party. Appearing on WBS on Sunday, Museveni said he was once a DP member.
“We have crosschecked all the records of DP members and his name is not there,†DP president John Ssebaana Kizito told journalists yesterday at the party’s weekly press conference in Kampala.
“Besides, in 1961 Museveni was still in school and he never had access to the then DP leader, Ben Kiwanuka.â€
Ssebaana also dismissed Museveni’s statement that DP rejected federalism in 1961.
“Museveni just wants to stain our good image. DP participated and supported the making of the 1962 Constitution which granted federalism. Since then, we have included federalism in our manifestoes,†Ssebaana argued.
He said Museveni’s refusal to grant federalism meant he ruled the country on his wishes other than those of the public.
“Let him know that in no time Ugandans will get federalism,†Ssebaana prophesied.
On the Kampala takeover Bill, the party officials said they would continue holding political rallies to sensitise the people, despite Police interference.
“We only use our brain power, why do the Police disrupt our rallies yet we are a registered party? This shows that they are bringing this Bill in bad faith,†Ssebaana said.
He urged the NRM to send its speakers to DP rallies to help sensitise the people on the Bill.
“Let the NRM people come, we shall give them chance to address people during our rallies. Otherwise, what the Government is doing is unconstitutional. You cannot talk of an effective multiparty dispensation when the freedom of assembly is not guaranteed,†Ssebaana reasoned.
He said the party’s recent rallies in Mukono, Ndeeda and Kyengera were brutally dispersed by the Police.
“Our party officials were seriously beaten, manhandled and deliberately detained beyond 48 hours,†he added.
“The Government should officially announce that we are in a dictatorship because there is no democracy where parties are not allowed to have rallies,†Ssebaana said.
On the famine in Teso, Ssebaana said the party last week started soliciting food aid.
“We have so far collected 40 bags of maize and we shall continue to get more. We ask more people in Kampala to make contributions so we can help our fellow Ugandans,†he appealed.
THE Democratic Party (DP) leaders have disputed President Yoweri Museveni’s remark that he was once a member of their party. Appearing on WBS on Sunday, Museveni said he was once a DP member.
“We have crosschecked all the records of DP members and his name is not there,†DP president John Ssebaana Kizito told journalists yesterday at the party’s weekly press conference in Kampala.
“Besides, in 1961 Museveni was still in school and he never had access to the then DP leader, Ben Kiwanuka.â€
Ssebaana also dismissed Museveni’s statement that DP rejected federalism in 1961.
“Museveni just wants to stain our good image. DP participated and supported the making of the 1962 Constitution which granted federalism. Since then, we have included federalism in our manifestoes,†Ssebaana argued.
He said Museveni’s refusal to grant federalism meant he ruled the country on his wishes other than those of the public.
“Let him know that in no time Ugandans will get federalism,†Ssebaana prophesied.
On the Kampala takeover Bill, the party officials said they would continue holding political rallies to sensitise the people, despite Police interference.
“We only use our brain power, why do the Police disrupt our rallies yet we are a registered party? This shows that they are bringing this Bill in bad faith,†Ssebaana said.
He urged the NRM to send its speakers to DP rallies to help sensitise the people on the Bill.
“Let the NRM people come, we shall give them chance to address people during our rallies. Otherwise, what the Government is doing is unconstitutional. You cannot talk of an effective multiparty dispensation when the freedom of assembly is not guaranteed,†Ssebaana reasoned.
He said the party’s recent rallies in Mukono, Ndeeda and Kyengera were brutally dispersed by the Police.
“Our party officials were seriously beaten, manhandled and deliberately detained beyond 48 hours,†he added.
“The Government should officially announce that we are in a dictatorship because there is no democracy where parties are not allowed to have rallies,†Ssebaana said.
On the famine in Teso, Ssebaana said the party last week started soliciting food aid.
“We have so far collected 40 bags of maize and we shall continue to get more. We ask more people in Kampala to make contributions so we can help our fellow Ugandans,†he appealed.